The latest news and events relating to the Growth Areas Authority are listed below, including major announcements, media releases, speeches and newsletters.
May 27, 2009: The Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) will not apply to land inheritances or to farmers who want to retire on their land, the Growth Areas Authority said today. "Land that simply transferred as part of inheritance after a death in the family will not attract the contribution under the draft legislation," GAA's chief executive officer Peter Seamer said today. Land Inheritances Not At Risk
May 19, 2009: The boundary for the western Melbourne investigation area for the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) has been extended as part of the Brumby Government's UGB review. Planning Minister Justin Madden today said the change to the investigation area had also resulted in a change to the UGB consultation timetable. Revised Investigation Area and Consultation for UGB
May 8, 2009: The 2008 Urban Development Program (UDP) Annual Report reveals there is approximately 10-11 years supply of broad hectare land across Melbourne's growth areas and an additional 25 years supply of industrial land. In releasing the UDP Annual Report Planning Minister today Justin Madden said the Brumby Government was taking action to maintain an adequate supply of land for housing and industrial purposes. 2008 Urban Development Program Annual Report Released
May 5, 2009: A $162.5 million Brumby Labor Government 2009 State Budget planning reform package will generate more jobs by supporting local councils, addressing blockages in the planning system; and directing commercial business development to key activity hubs. The Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, said the crucial reforms would create thousands of jobs by unlocking private sector investment through fast-tracked approvals and providing greater certainty for commercial business development. $162.5 million to Support Victorias Liveable Communities
March 19, 2009: The community has been invited to have its say about how the Planning and Environment Act 1987 can be improved, with a discussion paper being released by the Brumby Government today. Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Brumby Government was taking action to improve and modernise Victoria's laws. Submissions invited to Modernise Victoria's Planning Act
November 18, 2008: A new project to map native vegetation in the Growth Area regions is underway so native habitat can be protected or offset in future development. The project is being funded as part of the $3.5 million allocated by the Brumby Government to streamline planning processes in Melbourne's Growth Areas over the next two years. New Mapping Work to Streamline Planning in Wyndham, Hume, Casey-Cardinia, and Melton
October 14, 2008: Planning Minister Justin Madden released the draft Precinct Structure Planning (PSP) Guidelines for local government and industry comment will enable developments to be more responsive to local environmental conditions and less reliant on cars. Planning Up Front for Better Suburbs
October 14, 2008: Leading figures from across Melbourne's development industry will meet government and council officers today to discuss how to improve the balance between where Melburnians live and where they work. New Push to Bring Jobs to Urban Growth Hotspots
August 13, 2008: The City of Whittlesea was today congratulated for raising the bar on urban planning as the first growth area council to complete its precinct structure planning marked by the approval of the Epping North East Structure Plan. Whittlesea Raises the bar on Designing New Communities
August 11, 2008: A new project to map native vegetation in Melbourne's growth areas is about to start so native vegetation can be protected or offset in future development. The project will be funded as part of the $3.5 million allocated by the Brumby Government to streamline planning processes in Melbourne's Growth Areas over the next two years. New Mapping Work to Streamline Planning
June 10, 2008: Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, announced a $9 million boost to smooth the introduction of a new Urban Growth Zone (UGB) across Melbourne's outer suburbs, the next step of a planning overhaul to improve the quality and supply of new housing. $9 Million Boost to make New Communities more Affordable and Liveable
April 12, 2008: Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, announced an Australian first, with one of the country's largest residential developers, Stockland winning a tender to work with the State Government and planning experts to raise the quality of development in one of Melbourne's newest suburbs. Raising the Bar on Designing the Suburbs of the Future
March 4, 2008: Premier John Brumby today announced the establishment of the new Urban Growth Zone (UGZ), which will fast-track rezoning land for homes in growth areas across Melbourne. New Zone to Boost Housing in Growth Areas
December 11, 2007: Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, has referred a proposal for a major development in Melbourne's rapidly growing south-east to the Priority Development Panel. The proposal, at Cardinia Rd, is for a major new residential community between Beaconsfield and Pakenham. Housing proposal to go to Priority Panel
August 3, 2007: Premier John Brumby today promised to create new communities rather than just subdivisions during a visit to the north-west suburb of Cairnlea today. Premier Plans for New Communities Not Just Subdivisions
April 27, 2007: Minister for Planning, Justin Madden appoints new CEO for the Growth Areas Authority. New CEO appointed to Growth Areas Authority
Speech: 11 April 2008 - UDIA Conference Planning Minister's speech on Creating New Liveable Communities
Speech: 4 March 2008 - UDIA Conference Premier's speech on the new Urban Growth Zone
Electronic Newsletter 14: 9 July 2009 GAA Update
Attachment 1 - Information Sheet GAIC 150609.pdf Superseded
Attachment 2 - Information Sheet Supp GAIC 260609.pdf Superseded
Electronic Newsletter 13: 17 June 2009 Announcements
Electronic Newsletter 12: 7 April 2009 GAA Update
Electronic Newsletter 11: 19 December 2008 Update
Electronic Newsletter 10: 2 December 2008 Growth Area Update
Attachment 1 - melbourne-5-million-ugb-to-be-redrawn.htm
Electronic Newsletter 9: 21 November 2008 A Growth Area Update from the GAA
Electronic Newsletter 8: 15 October 2008 Precinct Structure Planning Guidelines - Consultation Draft
Electronic Newsletter 7: 11 June 2008 Update: UGZ
Attachment 1 - UGZ Boundary MR
Electronic Newsletter 6: 23 May 2008 Government response to M2030 AEG Report
Electronic Newsletter 5: 2 May 2008 A Brief Update on the Growth Areas Authority (GAA)
Attachment 1 - gaa_newsletter_apr08_web.pdf
Electronic Newsletter 4: 2 April 2008 Changes at the GAA
Electronic Newsletter 3: 4 March 2008 Planning Reform
Attachment 1 - Fact Sheet 4 The New Urban Growth Zone - approved.pdf;
Attachment 2 - 040308 - New Zone To Boost Housing In Growth Areas.pdf;
Attachment 3 - 4 March 2008 Premiers Speech to the UDIA.pdf
Electronic Newsletter 2: 19 September 2007 From the Growth Areas Authority
Electronic Newsletter 1: 6 August 2007 Quick Update from the Growth Areas Authority
Growth Areas News Issue 6: July 2009 Going for Sustainable Growth: Urban Growth Boundary Re-drawn
Growth Areas News Issue 5: November 2008 Jobs Imbalance: Why We Must Plan To Create More Local Jobs
Growth Areas News Issue 4: April 2008 New Zone to Boost Housing In The Growth Areas
Growth Areas News Issue 3: July 2007 A seamless transition
Growth Areas News Issue 2: March 2007 Welcome relief on land supply for Casey-Cardinia.
Growth Areas News Issue 1: October 2006 GAA Set to Help, Not HInder.
December 6, 2008 - Important Notice regarding the purchase and sale of land in Melbourne's Growth Areas - printed in The Age and Herald-Sun
December 13, 2008 - Urban Growth Boundary Review - printed in The Age, Herald-Sun, Northern Property News, North West Property News, Western Property News, Sunbury Macedon Leader and Pakenham-Berwick Gazette